Dutch To Donate Salary if Government Shuts Down

Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger will donate his government paycheck to the Army Emergency Relief Fund in the event of a shutdown, the congressman announced Friday.

Lawmakers have until midnight to settle a dispute regarding the nation’s budgetary issues. Ruppersberger called it “shameful” that elected officials are unwilling to compromise.

“If the government shuts down, I will forego my taxpayer-funded paycheck. If federal employees are not paid, I will not be paid," Ruppersberger said. “If our troops are not paid, I will not be paid. It is shameful that those elected to office cannot reach a compromise to keep our government up and running and Congress should not be rewarded for its inability to work together.”

Ruppersberger earns $174,000 a year, according to press secretary Jaime Lennon.

The Army Emergency Relief Fund supports military families with utilities, food, rent and medical expenses.

In an interview with Patch yesterday, Ruppersberger noted that more than 45,000 federal employees live in his district. He said hiswill remain open to aid constituents, even in the event of a shutdown.

“My concern is that a shutdown would be a huge blow to our economic recovery especially here in Maryland,” Ruppersberger said. “This would have a direct impact on everything from our grocery stores to dry cleaners. It’s a multiplier effect. The bottom line is families in the private sector are going to be hurt very much. … We’re urging Congressional leaders to reach an agreement as quickly as we can.”

Ruppersberger was the Baltimore county executive during the last government shutdown in the early 90s. He said, at the time, the county was more prepared for the shutdown.

In recent years the federal government has had to reach into local and state government to aid recovery in order to navigate the current fiscal recession. He said during his tenure as county executive he was forced to downsize and cut programs.

“If it weren’t for the federal government stepping up in the last couple of years, all local and state governments would’ve been in worse shape,” he said. “We had to do downsizing, but we also had to keep the county fiscally responsible. … We have to cut, there’s not question about that. There are a lot of areas where we can. I was the county executive for eight years. I did my budget. I had to cut every year. I had to review each program individually, not just across the board. … You have to say no to some programs.”

Gov. Martin O’Malley also issued a statement to the press earlier today condemning House Republicans for their refusal to compromise.

“Congressional Republicans are allowing their hate of government to hurt the hardworking families of our country,” O'Malley said in the statement. “It appears they care more about hurting our government than they do about helping our recovery.”